Pivoted snap lock to space antenna from reflector



Aug. 27, 1963 H. BOUCHARD 3,102,257

PIVOTED SNAP LOCK T0 SPACE ANTENNA FROM REFLECTOR Filed July 13, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F I 3 INVENTOR.

IRVINE H. BOUCl-IARD ATTORNEY Aug. 27, 1963 H. BOUCHARD 3,102,267

PIVOTED SNAP LOCK TO SPACE ANTENNA FROM REFLECTOR Filed July 13, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 1. 59 Lil ll -O 52 44 [l x154 u 1 u INVENTOR. F I G lRVlNE H. BOUCHARD ATTORNEY Aug. 27, 1963 1. H. BOUCHARD 0 PIVOTED SNAP LOCK T0 SPACE ANTENNA FROM REFLECTOR Filed July 15, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet s I l 7 l F G g INVENTOR. T

IRVINE H. BOUCHARD WLQM AT TOR NEY Aug. 27, 1963 l. H. BOUCHARD 3,102,267

PIVOTED SNAP LOCK TO SPACE ANTENNA FROM REFLECTOR Filed July 15, 1961 4 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTOR.

IRVINE H. BOUCHARD AT TORNEY tions.

' 3,102,267 I PIVOTED SNAP LOCK TO SPACE ANTENNA FROM REFLECTOR Irvine H. Bouchard, 1212 High St., South Bend, Ind. Filed July 13, 1961, Ser. No. 123,732 6 Claims. )(Cl. $43-$81) The present invention relates to antennas and more particularly to a collapsible antenna of the type used withtelevision receivers, primarily for outdoorjinstallaber of relatively small parts is not only difficult, but this assembly operation is too time consuming and costly tor mos-t sales and service organizations in this com petitive field.- It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide an antenna whioh can be economically produced, assembled and shipped, and which can be readily placed in condition for United States Pat n F final installation without the use of any tools or equipment and'without any special training or skill. p

Another object of the invention is to provide an antenna tor use with television receivers which is shipped and stored in acollapsed or folded condition, providing a relatively flat, easily handled and stacked carton or package, and. which can be readily and easily unfolded and expanded to its operating positionat the place of final installation.

Stillanother object ofxthe invention ist-o provide a collapsible antenna of the aforesaidtype which can easily be pulled from its folded position to its operating pomanipulatedto collapse the antenna in order to permit 7 easy handling and repeated demonstrations thereof.

Additional'objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational antenna embodying my invention;

FIGURE 2-is a side elevational view of theantenna shownin FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3. is a bottom view-of the antenna shown in *FIGURE 1;

' FIGURE 4is an enlarged elevational view of one of the fixtures connecting the front element to the rear assembly, showing the fixture in its extended position; 7

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view lofthe fixture shown in FIGURE 4 with the fixture being shown in its extended position;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the fixtureshown in FIGURES 4 and 5 with the fixture being shown in its folded or collapsed position, the rear assembly being shown as a fragmentaryelevational view; I

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the fixture shown in the view of a television preced-ingfigures, removed'from the trout element and v rear assembly, showing the fixture in its folded position;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the fixture shown in FIGURE 7, the fixture being shown in its told-ed position;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the base portion of the fixture shown in the preceding figures, showing one means of attaching the base to the rear assembly; and

FIGURE 10 is the base assembly shown in FIGURE. 9,

' showing a difierent means tor securing it to the rear as:

sembly. v I

Referring more specifically to the drawings, FIGURES 1 through 3 show an assembled television receiver antenna in position ready tor mounting on a mast, consit-ion, and which elfectively locks in its operating po-.

sition and becomes a rigid structure capableof withstanding all operating and weather conditions during service.

A further object is to provide an antenna having a front assembly or driven element and a relatively flatrear-or reflector assembly connected by one or more pivoted fixtures which permit the trout elementito collapse or told against the assembly, torming a thin struc- Another object of the invention is to provide a fixture for connecting the front element and rear assembly of an antenna, which canbe fabricated from, I

readily available material using relatively simple tabricating operations and equipment, and which can be assembled before incorporation in the fully constructed antenna structure.

Still a further object is to provide a fixture of the aforesaid type which will rigidly retain the trout ele ment'in its operating position, but which can be easily sisting of front assembly or driven element 10,rear or reflector assembly 12 and connecting supports 14- and 16 for holding said assemblies in a predetermined spaced a relation. The antenna shown is adapted for all UHF channel reception but can be adjusted-t0 obtain optimum reception of any selected channel.

The lfront assenrblyconsists of snbassemblies 1'8 and20 mounted on insulating cross members 22 and 24. These subassemblies are identical in construction and inter changeable and consist of a tube orb'ar 26 having four equally spaced bays, groups of dipole or whisker elements 28, 29, 3t) and 31, the groups 28 and 31 mounted on the ends of tubes 26 extending outwardly from each other and the groups 29 and 30 mounted in the interrnediatejportion of the tubes extending inwardly toward each other.-

Whisker groups 29and 30 otone tube overlap the corresponding groups of the other tube, but the groups'of one tube' are on a different plane thanthose of the other tube,

as shown clearly in FIGURES 2 and 3. in this arrangement the driven elements of a single subassemlblyare on the same vertical plane and the plane of one subassenibly is parallel with the plane of the' other subassembly and with the reflector. This construction in phasing, i.e. using a transposed arrangement for driven elements 29' and; 30

made possible by the slight oflf-set in the planes of the V subassernblies, in lieu of the conventional cnoss over or transposition of the phasing-bars, lowers the Q. of the antenna and consequently broadens its resonance char *actenstrcs, Further, the present construction combines in the smbassemblies both good electrical and mechanical strength. Although the two center bays or groups 29 and 30 overlap each other at their electrical centers, voltage or current phasing is in no way adversely affected. The

foregoing structure is covered by my US. Patent No.

The rear assembly is substantially the same as that shown in my previously mentioned patent, and will not be described in detail herein, the assembly consisting generally of an open and coarse mesh screen 40 of welded or soldered wire construction. Various spacing of the vertical and horizontal wires may be used for different antennas, and as far as the present invention is C0111- cerned, basically different types of front elements and rear assemblies may be used.

The front and rear assemblies are held in predetermined spaced relation by supports 14 and 16, the two supports shown in the drawings being identical in construction and operation, and normally rigidly and pennanently secured to the front element and rear assembly in the manner more fully described hereinafter. Since the two fixtures 14 and 16 are identical, only one will be described in detail herein. Referring to FIGURES 4 through 8, the present fixture consists of a metal base 50 having two forwardly extending arcuate projections 52 and 54 integrally attached to the ends of plate 56 of the base, each containing a forwardly extending slot 58 and a hole 60 in line with but spaced from slot 58. The two extensions are relatively rigid and are preferably stamped from the material from which the base is constructed. The base contains two spaced holes 62 and 64 for receiving *U-bolts or other types of means for attaching the antenna to a mast or support bar (not shown). Disposed at the four corners of base 50 are ears 66, 68, 70 and 72, projecting outwardly therefrom and adapted to be formed around the vertical wires of the rear assembly in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 10, or to grip and hold intermediate bars 74 and 75 as illustrated in FIGURE 9, the latter arrangement being used when the base is positioned on the rear assembly at a point not permitting the ears to engage the vertical wires of the rear assembly. When the base has been mounted on the rear assembly, it forms a rigid structure therewith and is normally not removed therefrom while assemblying the antenna or installing it on location. Rearwardly extending flanges 76 and 77 contain notches 73 and 79 for 'a mast or other support member.

The foregoing base supports a genenal-ly V-shaiped member 80 of resilient heavy wire construction having outwardly extending projections 82 and 84 seating in holes 60 of extensions 52 and 54, and straight sections 86 and 88 for slipping into and seating in slots 58 of the extensions, respectively. The forward end of member 80 is connected to cross member 22 or 24 of the front element by a clamp 92 secured to the cross member by a bolt 94. The belt also clamps andrigidly holds a U-shaped metal member 96 having two rearwardly extending arms 98 and 100, the free ends of which have rearwardly facing slots 102 and 104 for receiving diagonal sections 106 and 108 of V-shaped member 80. Extensions 52 and 54 are provided with tapered edges 110 and 112, which form slide or guide portions for sections 86 and 88 as member 80 is moved from its folded position shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 to its unfolded position shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. As the member is lifted, sections 86 and 88 engage either surface 110 or 112, thereby forcing the two sections inwardly along the ends of the two extensions to reach slots 58. The two sections then snap into the slot and are held rigidly therein by the inherent resiliency of member 80. Likewise, the ends of arms 98 and 100 are provided with tapered surfaces 114 and 116, so that 'as the front element is moved outwardly and member 80 pivoted in holes 60 [from its folded position to its extended position, sections 106 and 108 slide on either surface 114 or 116 of each arm, pressing the two arms outwardly until the two sections can pass along the end of the arms and snap into slots 102 and 104 of the arms.

It is thus seen that once the fixture is moved from its collapsed or folded position as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 to the position shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, 'V-shaped member 80 is held in its extended position by the seating of sections 86 and 88 in slots 58, and the seating of sections 106 and 108 in slots 102 and 104 of member 96.

One of the advantages of the present fixture is its versatility, both with respect to a particular type of antenna and to the variety of antennas on which it can be used. On the type of antennas shown in the drawings, only one fixture may be used if desired, thus, for example, eliminating fixture 16 and substituting therefor merely a pivoted lever of the same height as the fixture so that when the fixture is moved from its folded to its extended position, the lever will be moved from its folded to its extended position. The front element is held in rigid spaced relation from the rear assembly by the seating of V-shaped member in slots 58 and 102 and 104 of one fixture, as previously described. Further, in an economy-type fixture, either U-shaped member 96 or extensions 52 and 54 may be omitted, since either part 96 or the two extensions are capable of holding the V-shaped member 80 in its extended position when two fixtures are used on the antenna. Further, in the smaller antennas only one fixture is required. However, when one fixture is used, at least one arm of the U-shaped member 96 and one extension 52 or 54 are required in order to give the antenna structure adequate rigidity, and to prevent pivoting of the front element with respect to the rear assembly.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail herein, various changes and modifications in addition to those suggested above may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. An antenna comprising a front element having a pair of spaced cross members, a reflector assembly, a pair of fixtures connected at one end to said cross members and at the other end to said assembly, each fixture including a relatively flat base, ears adjacent the end of said base for securing said base to the reflector assembly, two forwardly extending arcuately shaped projections spaced laterally on said base near the ends thereof, each having a slot in the forward end and a hole spaced inwardly from said slot and edges tapered toward said slot, a generally V-shaped resilient member having an outwardly extending projection at each end pivotally seated in the hole of the respective extension, a means pivotally connecting said V-shaped member to said cross member of said front element, and a U-shaped bracket facing the same direction as said V-shaped member having a slot in the end and edges tapered toward said slot.

2. An antenna comprising a front element and a rear assembly, a pair of fixtures connecting said element and assembly, each fixture including a base, means adjacent the end of said base for securing said base to the rear assembly, two forwardly extending projections spaced laterally on said base, each having a slot in the forward end, a hole spaced inwardly from said slot and edges tapered toward said slot, a generally V-shaped resilient member having an outwardly extending projection at each end pivotally seated in the hole of the respective extension, a means connecting said V-shaped member to said front element, and a resilient U-shaped bracket facing the same direction as said V-shaped member having a slot in the end and edges tapered toward said slot.

3. An antenna comprising a front element and a rear assembly, a pair of fixtures connecting said element and assembly, each fixture including a base, means for securing said base to the rear assembly, two forwardly extending projections spaced laterally on said base, each having a slot in the forward end and edges tapered toward said slot, a generally V-shaped member having an outwardly extending projection at each end pivotal-1y connected to said projections, a means connecting said V-shaped member to said front element, and a resilient arm extending in the same direction as said V-shaped member having a slot in the end and edges tapered toward said slot.

4. An antenna comprising a front element and a rear assembly, a pair of fixtures connecting said element and assembly, each fixture including a base, means for securing said base to the rear assembly, two forwardly extending projections spaced laterally on said base, each having a slot in the forward end and edges tapered toward said slot, and a generally V-shaped member having an outwardly extending projection at each end pivotally connected to said base and movable from a position parallel to said rear assembly to a position perpendicular thereto for supporting said front element.

5. In an antenna: a front element. and a rear assembly,

a fixture connecting said element and assembly and ineluding a base, means for securing said base to the rear assembly, two forwardlyextending projections spaced lather having a slot in the end and edges tapered toward said slot.

6. For use with an antenna having a front element and a rear assembly: a fixture including a base, means for securing said base to the rear assembly, two forwardly extending projections spaced laterally on said base, each having a slot in the forward end and edges tapered toward said slot, a generally V-shaped member having an outwardly extending projection at each end pivotally mounted on said base, a means connecting "said V-shaped member to said front element, and a resilient arm facing the same direction as said V-shaped member having a slot in the end and edges tapered toward said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Saul Apr. 5, 1960 

1. AN ANTENNA COMPRISING A FRONT ELEMENT HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED CROSS MEMBERS, A REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY, A PAIR OF FIXTURES CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID CROSS MEMBERS AND AT THE OTHER END TO SAID ASSEMBLY, EACH FIXTURE INCLUDING A RELATIVELY FLAT BASE, EARS ADJACENT THE END OF SAID BASE FOR SECURING SAID BASE TO THE REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY, TWO FORWARDLY EXTENDING ARCUATELY SHAPED PROJECTIONS SPACED LATERALLY ON SAID BASE NEAR THE ENDS THEREOF, EACH HAVING A SLOT IN THE FORWARD END AND A HOLE SPACED INWARDLY FROM SAID SLOT AND EDGES TAPERED TOWARD SAID SLOT, A GENERALLY V-SHAPED RESILIENT MEMBER HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PROJECTION AT EACH END PIVOTALLY SEATED IN THE HOLE OF THE RESPECTIVE EXTENSION, A MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID V-SHAPED MEMBER TO SAID CROSS MEMBER OF SAID FRONT ELEMENT, AND A U-SHAPED BRACKET FACING THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID V-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A SLOT IN THE END AND EDGES TAPERED TOWARD SAID SLOT. 